On December 16, 2016, the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund completed the sixth review of Burkina Faso’s economic performance under a three-year program supported by the IMF’s Extended Credit Facility (ECF)[1] . The decision enables the disbursement of the equivalent of SDR 4.47 million (about US$6 million), bringing total disbursements to the equivalent of SDR 51.17 million (about US$68.6 million).

In completing the review, the Board also approved the authorities’ request for a 9-month extension of the ECF arrangement and augmentation of access of SDR 4.47 million (about US$6 million). The ECF arrangement was approved in December 2013 (see Press Release 13/542 ). An augmentation of access of 40 percent of quota was subsequently approved in June 2015, and, along with the extension approved today, brings total access to SDR 55.64 million (about US$74.6 million).

The Board also concluded the 2016 Article IV consultation; a press release will be issued separately.

“Burkina Faso’s performance under its Fund-supported program remains strong and the economic outlook is improving after two years of weaker growth. The immediate challenge is to strengthen the foundations of growth while maintaining macroeconomic stability. Downside risks include the potential for a reversal of the current favorable external conditions, further security threats, and social pressures for higher recurrent spending that would crowd out needed public investment.

“The authorities have adopted the 2016–20 National Economic and Social Development Plan, which provides a comprehensive vision of Burkina Faso’s development and envisages a significant scaling-up of investment. To that end, the authorities are implementing measures to create additional fiscal space, including reforms to boost domestic revenues by strengthening tax and customs administration, and efforts to contain recurrent expenditures, including on the public wage bill. Improvements in selection, budgeting, and procurement processes for investment projects are directly targeted at enhancing execution capacity. Careful sequencing and prioritization of projects will be crucial to ensure that these have a high development impact while maintaining fiscal and debt sustainability.

“The authorities are seizing the opportunity brought by low oil prices and recent improvements in the price of export commodities to increase the economy’s resilience and address structural barriers hindering sustained and inclusive growth. Energy sector reforms have improved the financial health of the state-owned petroleum and electricity companies, with the latter being now in a better position to improve supply. To support economic expansion and poverty reduction, it will be important to increase value-added in the agricultural sector and enhance access to financial services.”

[1] The ECF is a lending facility that provides sustained program engagement over the medium to long term in case of protracted balance of payments problems.

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